It’s time for a council tax overhaul
South Lanarkshire Council leader Eddie McAvoy wants a complete overhaul of local taxation in Scotland.
Speaking after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement on council tax last week, Councillor McAvoy said the system had “run out of time.”
Ms Sturgeon revealed plans on Wednesday for the four highest council tax bands to pay more.
She also revealed the council tax freeze would end in 2017, but local authorities would be limited to a three per cent rise.
Councillor McAvoy said he hadn’t yet studied the proposals in detail.
But, he added: “Council tax needs a complete overhaul.
“It’s been there for 20 years, and like all systems, it eventually runs out of time.
“The council tax freeze has been unfair on everyone. The majority of people are in lower bands while a minority in the higher bands have benefited the most for it.
“The reduction in income has then led to reduced services used mainly by those in the lower bands. If it gives more protection to those in lower bands then that’s a good thing.”
Announcing the reforms, Ms Sturgeon said the move would “protect household incomes, support investment in our schools, make local taxation fairer and ensure local authorities continue to be properly funded while becoming more accountable.”
But some unions say the proposal doesn’t go far enough.